Board of Directors
Charles DeSantis approaches each day driven by three core commitments: his family and friends, the community where he lives and works, and those in greatest need. He currently serves as Georgetown University’s Chief Benefits Officer and Associate Vice President for University Benefits and Wellness. In this role, Charles leads initiatives to create a supportive and inclusive culture by offering benefits designed to attract and retain employees. His work is grounded in Georgetown University’s values of Women and Men for Others and Cura Personalis (care for the whole person).
As Deputy to the CHRO, Charles oversees benefits, wellness, retirement, mental health, childcare, compensation (dotted line), international benefits, and student benefits worldwide. His leadership emphasizes providing choice, access, and service, with a holistic approach to enhancing the well-being of the university community and their families.
Charles’s passion for care and service is evident in his founding and leadership of GUWellness, Georgetown University’s comprehensive wellness program, and his dedication to providing robust mental health and financial wellness resources. He also contributes his expertise to several professional boards, including the TIAA Client Advisory Council, the MetLife Client Advisory Board Executive Committee, the Journey Proactive EAP Advisory Board, and the Employers Health Advisory Board. Previously, he served on the regional American Heart Association Board and the Fidelity Client Advisory Board.
As a humanitarian, Charles has made significant contributions to improving the lives of children and refugees worldwide. In 2008, he founded the Kibera Art Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, which empowers some of the world’s most impoverished communities by fostering creativity and providing a platform for expression. Additionally, he has served as Chair of the U.S. Association for UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) and now holds the title of Chair Emeritus. His humanitarian efforts extend further as a board member of organizations such as The Washington Ballet, Sitar Arts Center, and The Dance Theatre of Harlem. Charles also co-founded and serves as President of the San Francisco Art Institute Legacy Foundation and Archive to preserve the 150-year legacy of one of the world’s most influential art schools.
Charles’s dedication to service has earned him numerous accolades. In 2024, he received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Service from President Biden and Vice President Harris. In 2022, he received the inaugural Gatsby Showcase Foundation Appreciation Award for his humanitarian work. Charles DeSantis Biography He was also named Activist of the Year in 2019 by American University’s International Relations Society for his work in supporting refugees.
An accomplished scholar, Charles holds a bachelor’s degree in Art Practice from Saint Mary’s College of California and completed post-baccalaureate studies in painting at the San Francisco Art Institute. He earned a graduate certificate in Employee Benefits Law from Georgetown University Law Center and another in Non-Profit Leadership from Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy. Additionally, he holds an Executive Leadership Certificate from Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business and is currently an MFA candidate (class of 2026) at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Charles lives in Chevy Chase, DC, with his husband, David McDermott, and their four children—Lucas, Andre, Jasmine, and Lilly. An active artist specializing in painting and photography, he has authored two books: Smart, Beautiful, and Important: Teaching Art to AIDS-Affected Orphans in Africa’s Largest Slum and Lucas and Lilly Go to Kindergarten.
